111 - The Experiment

  Nexha observed the freshly made nails lined up on the stone floor. Jasper's small copper fish hung around his neck as he looked at the nails, a silent reminder of his younger brother's effort. But now, he needed to focus on his own task.

  He ran his fingers over a piece of moray seaweed bamboo, assessing the material's resistance.

  For days, he had been pondering the idea of fermenting rice to produce vinegar, an essential ingredient for preserving fish and the tide-mother seaweed fruit, which resembled a yellow tomato.

  Preserves could greatly help store food for times of scarcity. He wanted to store as much food as possible as a reserve in case something bad happened. For example, the new inhabitants said that the fish had started migrating out of fear, while others speculated that it had something to do with the awakening of the king. Nexha sighed to clear his mind and returned to his project.

  He needed sturdy, well-sealed barrels. The nails he and Jasper had forged would be key to keeping everything secure. He also thought about using these nails to make houses and structures more stable. While some parts were built with woven moray seaweed bamboo, others were merely tied together with seaweed—something he wanted to improve.

  But those were plans for another time. He picked up his tools and started working.

  The rhythmic sound of hammering echoed through the underwater village. The impact made the structure beneath his fins vibrate, but Nexha was used to it. He urgently needed to make this structure stronger.

  As he hammered, Lilay appeared beside him, tilting his head curiously.

  — You're making so much noise that Dad told me to come ask what you're doing — he said, crossing his arms.

  Nexha huffed, not taking his eyes off his work.

  — Hammering. I'm making a fermentation barrel. I want to see if I can make something like rice wine. For that, I have to spoil it in a very specific way.

  Lilay raised an eyebrow.

  — And why? You're going to waste food.

  — I'm trying to make vinegar. Imagine spoiling a little now to preserve a lot more food later.

  Lilay scratched his chin, watching the barrel take shape.

  — You think too much… I never thought that was even possible.

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  — And you think too little. Now help me instead of just watching.

  Lilay sighed but grabbed a piece of bamboo and started helping align the planks. Slowly, the barrels took shape.

  Jasper, who had been fetched by Nalu, finally appeared after a while, still drowsy from his afternoon nap, and peeked at them, fascinated.

  — What's that? — he asked, blinking slowly.

  — Barrels — Nexha replied, focused on fixing the last nails.

  — What for?

  Lilay laughed.

  — For Nexha to play village sorcerer.

  Nexha hammered a nail harder than necessary, shooting a glare at Lilay, who just smirked. Jasper, on the other hand, seemed impressed by the structure.

  — It's big… Will a lot fit in there?

  — I hope so. But first, I need to test if it leaks. Maybe later, we can replace the rice baskets with these—they're safer for storing food — Nexha said, inspecting the sides.

  With the barrels finished, all that was left was to prepare the rice and begin the experiment. Nexha sighed, satisfied, running his hand over the smooth bamboo surface.

  Maybe this could really work. He remembered when he helped his uncle in the other world make mead. Back then, he thought the process was complicated, but now, with that experience, he felt more confident. Luckily, he had paid attention at the time. He took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. It was time to begin.

  First, Nexha took a large turtle-shell bowl and filled it with fresh water, letting the rice soak. He watched the grains sink slowly, feeling a strange satisfaction with the process. The water became slightly cloudy as the starch loosened, a sign that everything was going as it should. "Now we wait…," he murmured to himself, feeling excitement build as his plan took shape.

  After a while, he drained the water and transferred the rice to a large pot, placing it over the furnace's gentle flame to boil. The heat began to rise, and the soft scent of rice filled the space. Nexha watched attentively, making sure the grains didn’t stick to the bottom, stirring occasionally. As the water slowly bubbled, he felt a mix of anxiety and excitement—it was a delicate process, and any mistake could ruin everything.

  — This has to work… — he murmured to himself, clenching his fists slightly before carefully stirring the rice again.

  Once the rice was cooked, Nexha took a deep breath, inhaling the warm, comforting aroma that filled the air. He carefully lifted the stone pot, observing the texture of the grains, now soft and slightly sticky. Gently, he spread the rice over a woven seaweed mat to cool, while his thoughts raced about the next steps. His heart beat a little faster—this was the crucial moment. If anything went wrong now, all the work would be wasted.

  He took another deep breath, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease slightly. With steady yet careful hands, he touched the rice’s surface, checking the temperature. It needed to be warm—not too hot, not too cold. His gaze shifted to his brothers, who watched with curiosity—Lilay with his arms crossed, Jasper trying to stifle a yawn.

  Still cautious, Nexha took a handful of the warm rice, feeling its soft texture between his fingers. His heart beat a little faster as he prepared to mix in possible fermentation starters.

  He wasn’t sure which one would work, so he made multiple attempts, using his alchemy skill. If even one of the ten barrels succeeded, it would already be a great advancement.

  This step would determine the success of the entire process. Lilay and Jasper watched in silence, but the anticipation in the air was palpable.

  Finally, the mixture was carefully poured into the barrels. Nexha took a knife and, with steady hands, carved the name of each fermenting agent onto the barrels. His heart pounded with expectation. He let out a deep sigh and crossed his fingers, silently hoping that at least one of these barrels would bring the expected results.